Portable surgical light



June 16, 1925. 1,542,011

H. E. SIMPSON PORTABLE SURGICAL LIGHT Filed Feb. 4, 1924 Patented .lune 16, 1925.

Unirse stares hMZii PATENT @FFEQEQ HIBAM R. SIMPSON, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA..

PORTABLE SURGICAL LIGHT.

Application filed February 4, 1924. Serial No. 690,584.

i which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable light projecting apparatus as used by surgeons and others in performing precise or delicate operations in constricted places or openings.

The principal objects of my invention are to supply portable apparatus of the type mentioned which will provide for such work at night or under conditions of poor illumination in combining a main locating light with a localizing or concentrating beam adapted for projecting into such constricted openings or passages, or localized areas, Without interfering with the operators vision through the glare of any such light, or

\ restricting him in any way while performing operations by its aid, also in such apparatus means for projecting a temporary localized beam or of a sustained beam as the cxigcncies of the case may demand.

I attain the objects outlined together with others in the apparatus shown in the drawings and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of my apparatus shown approximately full size, and with a portion broken away to show the electrical contacts.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1; Fig-A ure 3 is a cross section of Figure 1 as'seen from the line 33 thereof.'

Figure t is an enlarged perspective sketch of an insulating sleeve within my device; `Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged front and side views of my preferred form of bulb for the localizing beam; and Figure 7 shows my device with a strap for the eyepiece of the localizing beam and a flexible connection to the switch.

In the drawings my device is seen to consist of an electric flash lamp (1) for the locating light and mounted thereon is the localizing beam projector (2). Themain locating light (1) is preferably of the pocket type as shown having its batteries concealed within it, and has a metal outer shell grounded to the negative side of the batteries through the spring cap (et) at the end in the ordinary way and carries its bulb at (5) and switch at (6).

Between the poles (7) and (8) of the bulb and battery is a resilient electrical contact spring (9) insulated from the shell by a sheet of fiber or the like `(10) but secured thereagainst by` a screw (11) passing through an insulating sleeve (12) extending outwardly from the shell, the screw serving to i firmly clamp all together and also form a passage for the electric current to the localizing beam.

The sleeve (12) is threaded externally and receives a tubular metal piece (13) threaded internally; This metal piece has a knurled band at ('14) to facilitate screwing it in place and above that an extension (13) over which frictionally fits the lower outlet` of a tubular T (2) so that the latter may be revolved upon the extension after the same is screwed tightly in place on the sleeve (12), and thereby assume any position relative to the body (l) of the lamp, the dotted position (2') in Figure 1 showing it turned in the plane of the body lVithin the tubular metal piece (13) is screwed an insulating split sleeve (15) having a screw (16) passing through it for locking it in adjusted position and also for contacting the screw (11) to form a conductorof `the current to a bulb (17) screwed into the upper end of the extension (13').

This sleeve (15) is of special construction as better shown in Figure 4i, it is threaded to iitthe threaded bore of member (13), is'

split at one side (18) so that it can be eX- panded and has a threaded hole passing through it'for the screw (16), and is countersunk for the Atapered head of the screw as shown in Figure 3 so that when the screw is tightened in -place it will expand the sleeve and lock it in whatever adjusted position it may be set. To prevent the sleeve (15) from revolving while turning the screw (16.), or for adjusting the position of the sleeve, it is provided with spanner wrench holes (19).

In the horizontal leg of the T (2) is arranged an eyepiece (20) carrying a suitable lens (21) and the eyepiece is preferably slidable in the tube (2) for adjustment of the focus.

In practice several interchangeable eyepieces or lenses will be used in order to meet every requirement of focus, and of course the eyepieces will carry` simple or compound lenses depending on the use of the instrument. Across the tube (2) in front of the eyepiece lens is a reflector shield (22) pierced in its center and having an extended sight tube passing beyond the center of the bulb (17) and practically touching the bulb. The shield (22) is of course blackened on the eyepiece side and is a reflector on the bulb side and may be either plain or concave to project a beam of whatever character the operation may demand.

IVhile I show at (17) an ordinary bulb for the localizing beam, attention is drawn to the tact that the complete development ot my apparatus includes the use of a pierced flattened electric bulb as shown in Figures 5 and (l. This bulb, when in place. will surround the sight tube (23) and thereby malte available a great deal more light and in a position. better adapted to proper projection by the reflector.

Since, in the construction shown, the bulb (17) is grounded to the metal piece (13) and to complete the circuit it is merely necessary to contact the piece (13) with the metal shell (1), I provide a spring arm switch (24) for making such a Contact. The switch is revolvably mounted on a shoulder at the end of piece (13), which latter is at spun over it to retain it in place, and the spring` arm is split at (2G) so as to resiliently clamp to the shoulder. The switch (24) as positioned in Figure 1 is adapted for momentary contacts with the shell (1) or long contacts upon being held down, but it very long contacts are required with the hands free the switch is revolved to position as dotted at (27) and will then remain in contact against the increased end diameter of shell (1) or its end cap, until it is revolved out of contact.

When the localizing beam extends in the plane of the shell (1) as shown dotted at (2) it may be used jointly with the locating beam with bulb (5) or not as may be desired, as the switch (6) does not affect the localizing beam.

The arrangement shown in Figure 7 provides a cord extension (28) between the switch (24) and the localizing light (2) and an elastic or other band (29) for strapping the eyepiece to the users head thus making both hands free and the locating beam available for picking up instruments' at night in a field case.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen to effect the objectives outlined, and while I show specific means of carrying it out it is evident that modifications are easily possible in such' apparatus and any such as come within the spirit of my invention are intended to be covered in my appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elongated pocket electric flash lamp having a container casing with a battery therein and a lamp at one end, with its light beam directed away from and longitudinally of the casing, an electric lead from the battery extending through the side of the casing adjacent said lamp, and a localizing light projector rotatably mounted over the lead, on an axis substantially at right angles to the casing, an electric bulb in the projector in circuit with the lead, and a switch associated with the casing for completing the circuit to energize the bulb.

2. In a pocket electric flash lamp having a container casing with a battery therein and a lamp at one end, an electric lead from the battery extending through the side of the casing, and a localizing light projector mounted over the lead, an electric bulb in the projector in circuit with the lead and means tor completing the circuit to energize the bulb, said projector comprising a tubular "l" with its vertical leg rotatably mounted on the casing, the bulb at the juncture et tbe legs and an eye piece in one end of the horizontal leg` having a sight tube extending therefrom axially within the horizontal leg and passing over and beyond the bulb.

3. The combination in a portable electric flash lamp having a casing with a battery therein and an electric bulb in circuit with the battery at the end of the casing, of a side electrical lead extending from the casing and having a contact interposed between the battery terminal and the bulb terminal, a second casing surrounding the lead and extending from the first casing, but insulated therefrom, and a switch for completing a circuit therethrough 'trom the lead to the second casing.

HIRAM It. SIMPSON. 

